Iowa Lakes Community College Infinity Scholars Project

项目摘要爱荷华湖社区学院的Infinity Scholars计划旨在将多元化的才华横溢的STEM学生群体团结起来，为成功过渡到大学或劳动力市场做好学术准备。 每年，多达30名奖学金获得者将参加职业探索会议，本科生研究，包括参与者研究，专业投资组合开发，爱荷华州科学院成员资格和STEM探索之旅。 此外，还计划开展教师指导和队列学习桌活动，以提高学生的保留率和学位成绩。 在毕业典礼上，爱荷华州湖泊的无限学者做好了充分的准备，成为国家需要的技术领域的领导者和创新者。 智力优势：该项目建立在爱荷华州湖泊的第一个S-STEM项目的基础上，其中144名参与者的平均GPA保持在3.50，远高于大学平均水平2.76。 经验丰富的主要研究者计划通过增加更密集的职业探索，参与以目标为中心的队列和专业网络来扩大这一成功。Infinity Scholars计划的成功将根据项目数据库中爱荷华州湖泊和STEM学位课程的合格非参与学生基线数据进行衡量。 更广泛的影响：Infinity Scholars计划旨在通过参与者旅行，专业网络和本科生研究机会来促进学习和发现。 爱荷华州湖泊被指定为西北爱荷华州干枢纽是为了让计划信息迅速传播到整个地区和国家的天才学生，并将是一个有效的手段，从代表性不足的群体招募个人。

PROJECT ABSTRACTIowa Lakes Community College's Infinity Scholars program is designed to unify a diverse group of talented STEM students with academic preparation for a successful transition to a university or the workforce. Each year, up to 30 scholarship recipients are to engage in career exploration conferences, undergraduate research with a capstone event featuring participant research, professional portfolio development, membership in the Iowa Academy of Science, and a STEM Exploration Trip. Additionally, faculty mentoring and cohort study table activities are planned to increase student retention to degree achievement. At graduation, Iowa Lakes' Infinity Scholars are well-prepared to become leaders and innovators in technical areas of national need. Intellectual Merit: The program builds upon Iowa Lakes' first S-STEM program in which 144 participants maintained an average GPA of 3.50, well above the college average of 2.76. Experienced Principal Investigators plan to expand this success through the addition of more intensive career exploration, participation in goal-focused cohorts, and professional networking. The Infinity Scholars program success is to be measured against eligible, non-participant student baseline data for Iowa Lakes and STEM degree programs in a project database. Broader Impacts: The Infinity Scholars program is to advance learning and discovery through participant travel, professional networking, and opportunities for undergraduate research. Iowa Lakes' designation as the Northwest Iowa STEM Hub is to allow program information to be quickly disseminated to gifted students throughout the region and the state, and will be an effective means for recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups.